Why are my dog's ears always infected despite Z/D food and washes?

Question

Hi I have taken my 18month old staffy to the vets on several occasions about his ears and his itchy skin. They changed his food so now he's on Z/D food sensitivities. Which has helped with the scratching but his ears are constantly infected. We use the ear wash twice a week as the vet told us to and use the drops which clears it up for a week or two then his infection comes back mainly one ear but sometimes in both. Pet's info: Dog | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Male | neutered | 1 year and 5 months old | 24 lbs

Lauren Celestin, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello! It sounds as if Fergie may be one of those dogs that would benefit from regular weekly ear cleaning for maintenance. In order to confirm a food allergy it takes at least 12 weeks of adhering STRICTLY to the new diet. This means 12 weeks of only the specified food, absolutely no treats or other snacks unless they are the Hill's Z/D treats or the same novel protein. I say that to say that it will take time to see results if a food allergy is the cause. There are other possibilities that could be the cause for the itching and ear infections, but I think diet is a great place to start. Having an itchy dog is hard for all parties involved, but try to hang in there with the food. If things do not seem to be improving certainly after 12 weeks, its time to start investigating other options (i.e. medication, visiting a dermatologist). Hopefully this helps some! Hang in there!

Why are my dog's ears always infected despite Z/D food and washes?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Why is my mouse's eye swollen, cloudy, and has pus?

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

Can chickens eat bell peppers daily and what about veggie salads?

Is Purina Layer Pellets good for chickens? What other feeds exist?

My mice eat all their food together from one bowl. Is this normal?

My pet is breathing hard, not eating, and lethargic. What's wrong?

Share